DuPage Forest Preserve District President Dan Hebreard will give a free public talk on the district's sustainability programs Friday, Aug. 28, at the Lombard Community Building.
The presentation, titled "Green Initiatives," is hosted by the Lombard Garden Club as part of its regular monthly program series. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., with Hebreard's talk beginning at 1 p.m. at 433 E. St. Charles Road in Lombard.
No registration is required.
Hebreard plans to cover the district's work beyond its natural lands, including alternative fuels, energy programs and projects at landfill sites on preserve property, according to the club's program schedule.
The district manages 60 forest preserves spanning 26,000 acres across DuPage County, with 175 miles of trails and seven education centers. More than 5.9 million people visit annually. Its board approved a $151 million budget for 2026, a 5% increase over 2025.
Hebreard, a lifelong DuPage County resident who lives in Woodridge, joined the Forest Preserve District as a ranger in 2005 and was elected at-large to the board in 2018, according to the district's website. He holds a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Benedictine University. He and his wife, Donna, power their home entirely with solar energy, and he drives an electric car.
At a May 9 groundbreaking for the final segment of the West Branch DuPage River Trail, Hebreard called the $8.5 million project one that "connects forest preserves, communities, and regional trails while turning years of planning and partnerships into a safer, continuous route residents can enjoy." That 0.7-mile stretch linking Blackwell and West DuPage Woods forest preserves is expected to open in June 2027.
The Lombard Garden Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Upcoming
- Friday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m.: "Green Initiatives" with Dan Hebreard, Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road, Lombard. Free and open to the public.
- Friday, Sept. 25, 1 p.m.: "Bats Around the World" with Sharon Peterson, Lombard Community Building. Free and open to the public.
